Abuse scandal
Ireland: Archbishop Martin, “no slippage in vigilance””On a purely personal level, as Diarmuid Martin, I have never since becoming Archbishop of Dublin felt so disheartened and discouraged about the level of willingness to really begin what is going to be a painful path of renewal”. Yet, “I have no choice but to lay aside personal discouragement and continue day-by-day the search for personal conversion and renewal”. So says Archbishop Martin of Dublin in an address on the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland, issued on 10 May. Among the reasons for discouragement the Archbishop cites “the drip-by-drip never-ending revelation about child sexual abuse and the disastrous way it was handled. There are still strong forces which would prefer that the truth did not emerge. The truth will make us free, even when that truth is uncomfortable. There are signs of subconscious denial on the part of many about the extent of the abuse which occurred within the Church of Jesus Christ in Ireland and how it was covered up. There are other signs of rejection of a sense of responsibility for what has happened. There are worrying signs that despite solid regulations and norms, these are not being followed with the rigour required”. As regards the Archdiocese of Dublin, the archbishop continued, “I have constantly warned against any slippage in vigilance. I appeal once again to all parishes to ensure that all child protection measures are in place and in operation and that there is no let-back in the level of vigilance. Questions about child safeguarding should be on the agenda of every meeting of every Parish Pastoral Council and if there are any concerns that are not being addressed then let people contact me directly”.Belgium: 270 new dossiers openedSince 23 April 2010, 270 new dossiers have been opened by the Commission set up by the Belgian Bishops’ Conference to examine cases of sexual abuse in the Belgian Church. This is reported in a statement signed by Peter Adriaenssens, chairman of the Commission and issued in recent days. Twelve cases come from French-speaking Belgium. 90% of the victims are males. “The Commission – explains Adriaenssens – has reinforced its team to give a more satisfactory response to the needs. Many letters and e-mails still await an answer, given the number of complaints received”. As for those guilty of abuses, he continues, “we appreciate the collaboration” following the appeal of Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard of Bruxelle-Malines, President of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, who had asked the victims of sexual abuse to “make themselves known to the Commission and to justice”. The Commission also urges the media to respect the private life of victims: “many cases reported by the press do not clearly state whether an authorization has been obtained, even if the data are furnished in full respect for the victims’ anonymity”. So the victims are “encouraged to contact us knowing that their confidentiality will be guaranteed”.Holland: committee of inquiry set up “The proposal made by Wim Deetman for an independent committee to be established to investigate sexual abuse in the Netherlands from 1945 to the present day has been accepted”, say the Dutch bishops in a statement issued on 11 May, in which the Dutch Bishops’ Conference and the Conference of Dutch Religious (KNR) express their joint support for the plan that Wim Deetman, former minister and former mayor of The Hague, had proposed a few days’ ago. The work of the Committee, probably consisting of five experts, ought to be completed within 18 months. Five levels of activity are envisaged: listening to the victims, witnesses, those charged with offences and their defence counsels, and administrators; conducting archival research; studying material on the question; conducting its own research; and assisting the victims. The bishops and KNR stress in their joint communiqué “their condemnation of any kind of sexual abuse, as contrary to the Gospel and to the dignity of the human person”; re-affirm “their apologies and sorrow for the victims of abuse, and invite the victims who have still not denounced what has happened to do so to the Hulp & Recht (Aid and Right) association or to the committee about to be set up”. As regards the timetable proposed by Deetman “priority is being given to assistance and counselling to the victims”. Even in cases in which the legal procedures for assistance and listening to the victims have already been set in motion, the Dutch bishops and religious consider “of paramount importance that, in the short term, the Committee should examine further ways of providing assistance and optimizing the good outcome of the existing procedures”. They then ask Deetman to assume the chairmanship to the Committee, thank its members for their willingness to take part in the inquiry, and “confirm their trust in its transparent and independent operation and in its ability to conduct scientific research”. “Independence and transparency”, they conclude, “are precisely what the victims, just like the Church, have a right to expect, to effectively prevent future abuses”. At the present time, some 1,500 denunciations of abuse have been received by the Hulp & Recht association; most of the abuses in question are alleged to have taken place in religious boarding-schools and seminaries.
